Scatter plot showing radiotherapy units per million population (x-axis) versus age-standardized cancer mortality rate per 100,000 (y-axis) for 31 LAC countries, colored by subregion. A dotted vertical line marks the IAEA recommended minimum at 4 units per million; only 6 countries meet it (Antigua & Barbuda, Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados, Uruguay, Suriname, Bahamas), and all have high mortality rates. Five countries cluster at zero on the x-axis (Belize, Grenada, Haiti, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent). A dashed trend line slopes upward, showing a positive correlation. Colombia stands out below the trend line with low radiotherapy (2.4) but also low mortality (81.4). Uruguay has the highest mortality (128.3) despite meeting the IAEA minimum.
Radiotherapy data: WHO GHO, mostly 2021; data for Belize, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, and St. Vincent & the Grenadines dates to 2013; Haiti to 2010. These countries all report 0 units but may have acquired equipment since. Mortality data: GLOBOCAN 2022 for 28 countries; WHO GHO 2019 for Antigua & Barbuda, Grenada, and St. Vincent & the Grenadines (not in GLOBOCAN for 2022). Small-population countries (e.g., Antigua & Barbuda, pop. ~100,000) may appear to have high per-capita rates from a single machine. Correlation does not imply causation.
Chart: Johnattan García-RuizSource: WHO Global Health Observatory; IAEA DIRAC database